Overview
- Kohl’s second-quarter net and comparable sales fell about 0.9% to roughly $3.3 billion, missing analysts’ sales estimates while adjusted EPS came in at $1.28 versus a roughly $0.58 consensus.
- The quarter included an approximately $150 million tariff refund that materially boosted reported profit and helped drive the earnings beat.
- Management raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $1.80–$2.40 from $1.00–$1.60, and narrowed its net and comparable sales outlook to flat to down 1.5%.
- Kohl’s said it will resume up to $100 million in share repurchases under its existing authorization, a buyback restart after a multiyear pause.
- Investors reacted skeptically, sending the stock down about 5–6% in pre-market trading as analysts and market activity reflected concern that the one-time refund masks ongoing weakness in discretionary spending and that CEO Michael Bender’s multi-year turnaround still faces ‘critical work ahead.’